Optical fiber connector and adapter capable of preventing dust

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber connector configured to be inserted into an optical fiber adapter according to the present invention is provided. The optical fiber connector includes a housing and an elastic body. The housing has a front end with an opening formed thereon. The elastic body is positioned on the housing and around the opening. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into an axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter, a hollow cylinder of the optical fiber adapter will be inserted into the optical fiber connector through the opening on the front end of the housing and the elastic body on the housing will be in contact with inner walls of the axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/911,794 filed Oct. 26, 2010, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial Number 099129833 filed Sep. 3, 2010, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector and an optical fiber adapter, and more particularly, to an optical fiber connector and an optical fiber adapter capable of preventing dust.

2. Description of the Related Art

Fiber optics has revolutionized communication throughout the world. With the increased used of fiber optics it has become increasingly important to be able to connect and disconnect fiber optic cables from various sources. Two fiber optic cables can be optically coupled so that they are in communication with each other by using connectors and an adapter, thereby putting each fiber optic cable in communication with the other. The connectors are placed on the end of each cable and then plugged into the adapter. The adapter has two openings each one designed to receive a connector.

However, when an optical fiber connector is inserted into an optical fiber adapter, a narrow channel will be present between the connector and the inner walls of the adapter. Thus, external dust can still pass through this narrow space to contaminate the ferrule of the connector.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a solution to solve the aforesaid problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical fiber connector capable of preventing dust from contaminating the ferrule therein when the optical fiber connector is inserted into an optical fiber adapter.

In one embodiment, the optical fiber connector of the present invention includes a housing and an elastic body. The housing has a front end with an opening formed thereon. The elastic body is positioned on the housing and around the opening. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into an axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter, a hollow cylinder of the optical fiber adapter will be inserted into the optical fiber connector through the opening on the front end of the housing and the elastic body on the housing will be in contact with inner walls of the axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter.

The present invention further provides an optical fiber adapter capable of preventing dust from contaminating the ferrule of an optical fiber connector when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter.

In one embodiment, the optical fiber adapter of the present invention includes a housing, a hollow cylinder and an elastic body. The housing has an axial cavity defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall. The hollow cylinder is axially positioned in the axial cavity and the elastic body is positioned on and around the hollow cylinder. When the optical fiber connector is inserted into the axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter, the hollow cylinder of the optical fiber adapter will be inserted into the optical fiber connector through the opening on the front end and the elastic body will be in contact with inner walls of axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a conventional LC type optical fiber connector.

FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of a conventional duplex LC type optical fiber adapter.

FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the optical fiber connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted into the optical fiber adapter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber adapter according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the optical fiber connector of FIG. 1 is inserted into the optical fiber adapter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the optical fiber connector of FIG. 3 is inserted into the optical fiber adapter of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional LC type optical fiber connector 100 has a generally rectangular shape with a square cross section. The connector 100 includes a rectangular hollow housing 110 comprised of a top side-wall 111, a bottom side-wall 112, a right side-wall 113 and a left side-wall 114, wherein the right side-wall 113 is opposite to the left side-wall 114 and connects with the bottom side-wall 112 and the top side-wall 111. A latch 120 is molded into the top side-wall 111 and includes a living hinge 125 which allows the tab 126 to be moved up and down in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 150-150 of the connector 100. The latch 120 includes a pair of protrusions 121 that are positioned on opposing sides of the tab 126. In addition, a ferule 140 protrudes from a circular opening 116 on the front end of the housing 110. A spring is located inside the housing 110 to allow the ferrule 140 to move back and forth through the opening 116 (not shown in the figure). A pair of protrusions 160 is positioned on the right side-wall 113 and left side-wall 114, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional LC type optical fiber adapter 200, such as an LC duplex adapter includes a generally rectangular housing 210. The housing 210 has an axial cavity defined by a top side-wall 211, a bottom side-wall 212, a right side-wall 213 and a left side-wall 214. The axial cavity is divided into two halves by a compartment wall 215 that is parallel to the right side-wall 213 and left side-wall 214 and connects with the top side-wall 211 and bottom side-wall 212. The half of the axial cavity defined by the top side-wall 211, bottom side-wall 212, compartment wall 215 and right side-wall 213 is named as the right axial cavity and the other half of the axial cavity defined by the top side-wall 211, bottom side-wall 212, compartment wall 215 and left side-wall 214 is named as the left axial cavity. Each of the right and left axial cavities has an opening 208. A pair of indentations 220 mating with the protrusions 160 on the connector 100 is arranged in the left axial cavity on the left side-wall 214 and compartment wall 215, respectively. Similarly, the indentations 220 are also arranged in the right axial cavity on the right side-wall 213 and compartment wall 215, respectively. When the connector 100 of FIG. 1 is fully inserted into the adapter 200 through either of the openings 208, the protrusions 160 on the connector 100 will be placed in the indentations 220. Two hollow cylinders 240 are axially positioned in the right and left axial cavities respectively to receive the ferrule 140 of the connector 100. In addition, the adapter 200 further includes reciprocal locking mechanisms 230 which, referring to FIG. 1, mate with the latch 120, thereby securely interlocking the connector 100 with the adapter 200 when the connector 100 is completely inserted into the adapter 200.

Referring to FIG. 3, the optical fiber connector 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the optical fiber connector 100, where identical reference numerals have been used when designating substantially identical elements that are common to the figures. However, the connector 300 further has an annular indentation 320 formed on the outer walls of the housing 110 and adjacent to the opening 116. An annular elastic body 310 is positioned in the indentation 320. Specifically, the elastic body 310 is placed around the opening 116 and positioned on the top side-wall 111, bottom side-wall 112, a right side-wall 113 and a left side-wall 114.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the connector 300 of the present invention is fully inserted into the axial cavity of the adapter 200 through either of the opening 208, the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 200 will be inserted into the connector 300 through the opening 116 and the ferrule 140 of the connector 300 will be inserted into the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 200. Furthermore, the annular elastic body 310 positioned on the housing 110 of the connector 300 will be brought into tight contact with the inner walls of the axial cavity of the adapter 200. In this way external dust will fail to enter the hollow cylinder 240 to contaminate the ferrule 140 received in the hollow cylinder 240 due to the obstruction of the elastic body 310 when the connector 300 is fully inserted into the adapter 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, the optical fiber adapter 500 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the optical fiber adapter 200, where identical reference numerals have been used when designating substantially identical elements that are common to the figures. However, the adapter 500 further has at least one annular indentation 520 formed on the outer walls of the hollow cylinder 240. At least one annular elastic body 510 is positioned in the indentation 520. Specifically, the elastic body 510 is placed on and around the outer walls of the hollow cylinder 240.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the connector 100 is fully inserted into the axial cavity of the adapter 500 through either of the opening 208, the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500 will be inserted into the connector 100 through the opening 116 and the ferrule 140 of the connector 100 will be inserted into the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500. Furthermore, the annular elastic body 510 positioned on the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500 will be brought into tight contact with the inner walls of the housing 110 of the connector 100. In this way external dust will fail to enter the hollow cylinder 240 to contaminate the ferrule 140 received in the hollow cylinder 240 due to the obstruction of the elastic body 510 when the connector 100 is fully inserted into the adapter 500.

In addition, referring to FIG. 7, when the connector 300 is fully inserted into the axial cavity of the adapter 500 through either of the opening 208, the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500 will be inserted into the connector 300 through the opening 116 and the ferrule 140 of the connector 300 will be inserted into the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500. Furthermore, the annular elastic body 310 positioned on the housing 110 of the connector 300 will be brought into tight contact with the inner walls of the axial cavity of the adapter 500 and the annular elastic body 510 positioned on the hollow cylinder 240 of the adapter 500 will be in tight contact with the inner walls of the housing 110 of the connector 300. In this way a better result of preventing dust can be obtained.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. An optical fiber connector configured to be inserted into an optical fiber adapter, wherein the optical fiber adapter has a housing and a hollow cylinder, the housing has an axial cavity defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, the hollow cylinder is axially positioned in the axial cavity, the optical fiber connector comprises: a housing having a front end with an opening formed thereon; and an elastic body positioned on the housing of the optical fiber connector and around the opening; wherein when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter, the hollow cylinder of the optical fiber adapter will be inserted into the optical fiber connector through the opening on the front end and the elastic body will be in contact with inner walls of axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter.
 2. The optical fiber connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing of the optical fiber connector has an indentation formed thereon, and the elastic body is positioned in the indentation.
 3. The optical fiber connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical fiber connector is an LC type optical fiber connector.
 4. An optical fiber adapter configured to receive an optical fiber connector, wherein the optical fiber connector has a housing and a ferrule, the housing has a front end with an opening formed thereon, the ferrule is positioned in the housing and protrudes from the opening, the optical fiber adapter comprises: a housing having an axial cavity defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall; a hollow cylinder axially positioned in the axial cavity; an elastic body positioned on and around the hollow cylinder; and wherein when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the axial cavity of the optical fiber adapter, the ferrule will be inserted into the hollow cylinder and the elastic body will be in contact with inner walls of the housing of the optical fiber connector.
 5. The optical fiber adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hollow cylinder has an indentation formed thereon, and the elastic body is positioned in the indentation.
 6. The optical fiber adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the optical fiber adapter is an LC type optical fiber adapter. 7-9. (canceled) 